Recently, through a new collaboration between the Northalsted Business Alliance ( NBA ) and The Legacy Project, Boystown hosted a group of 24 students from LaPorte High School to participate in The Legacy Walk tour. The students were able to see the LGBT icons from throughout history, as well as shop at neighborhood businesses including Nookies Tree and Beatnix. The students' story is unique, as they not only traveled more than 40 miles to learn about Boystown's rich history, but they also self-funded their trip.
The Legacy Project Founder and Executive Director Victor Salvo, who is also the new program director for this collaboration, said, "the students were wonderful. They were so passionate and interested in learning about our community and culture. Every time I started telling the story of a plaque, you could hear a pin drop."
This was the first time this group of students has been able to venture off campus. The students were given permission to come to Boystown under the condition that they funded their own trip. Starting out as a group of 40 students, their hopes to visit were soon challenged when they found out that the signing of a permission slip for nearly half of the teens would "out" them to their parents. At this point, the number of students who were able to participate decreased and the cost per student nearly doubled, leaving them with few options.
A fellow student group, upon hearing about their situation, offered to donate the money they have been collecting, so their peers did not miss the trip.
"As a community, we should be supporting these types of tourism projects," said Christopher Barret Politan, executive director of NBA. "Not only does it provide an avenue for LGBT students to express themselves through educational opportunities, it drives business into our local economy. It is incumbent upon past and current generations to work together to promote the robust history of our community, and Boystown, as a beacon of hope."
NBA has taken this challenge on by collaborating with The Legacy Project to help foster these relationships, and provide educational and cultural programming for both neighbors and visitors. "Witnessing students express interest in our history and neighborhood is inspiring. We strive to provide a safe and welcoming space for young people to come and feel comfortable to learn about themselves, our collective history and our community," said Barret Politan.
